Fire in our hearts - The Jesus Army

FIRE IN OUR HEARTSON THE MARCH‘God healed me of addiction,’ wrote Jamie. ‘Mind you, lifehasn’t been a bed of roses since!’RACISM IS ABOLISHED! was another caption, under whichNathan and a white brother grinned contentedly at the generalpublic.‘Miracles, healing, supernatural experiences, and speakingin tongues — its all part of daily life for the Jesus Peopleof Bugbrooke,’ proclaimed the Mercury 76 .People had been healed physically but also emotionally fromthe pains of broken marriages, loneliness and rejection. ‘Jesuscomes with good news for the poor,’ we sang, and othersongs began to pour out identifying with people’s heartbreakand their need for God’s love. Guitars appeared in public againand some of us led songs from the platform. Even Noel wrotelyrics. When twenty songs appeared on the notice sheet itwas fun guessing who wrote which!We launched into praise. Tambourines and banjos were effectivefor street singing and violins, trumpets, and recorderswere also heard (in moderation).‘Shout! O shout! O shout for joy!’ we sang. (And was thatRufus back on the bongos?)‘Yes, we’ll celebrate Jesus, we’ll shout and cheer and sing!’(What! The Jesus Fellowship cheering and shouting?) We loosenedup after years of deep, serious community, helped on bysongs from Mission Praise.Other radical churches evangelised in earnest around thistime. Andrew Walker remarked, ‘This first organised assaultby the “restored kingdom” upon the secular world was begunonly when leaders felt that the kingdom base was nowsecured.’ 77244